Method of extracting volatiles from coals, shales, lignites, and similar materials and for refining the same.



1 C. C. BUSSEY. 1 METHOD OF EXTRACTING VOLATILES FROM coALs. SHALES, LIGNITES, AND smlLAn MATERIALS AND 'FOR REHNING THE SAME. APPLICATION FILEG MAY 12. 1914.

Q 1 1 9 1,869. Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESS 7 HIV TOR I 050. BUSSEY. METHOD OF EXTR ACTING VOLATILES FROM COALS, SHALES, LIGNITES, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS AND FOR REFINING THE SAME.

ArYLlCATION FILED MAY 12, [924. V

Patented July 18, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN VE N TOR UNITED STTS ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BUSSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO COAL BY-PRODUCTS COMPANY.

METHOD OF EXTRAGTING VOLATILES FROM GOALS, SHALES, LIGNITES, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS AND FOR REFINING THE SAME.

Application filed May 12 To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BUSSEY,

- a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented an ImprovedMethod of Extract- This invention relates .to an improved method of extracting volatile matters from bituminous coals, shales, lignites and othersimilar materials containing hydro-carbonaceous ingredients, and 1n carrying out the same I first generate a suitable gas or other equivalent heat agent and then pass the same, at less than a pre-determined temperature, and preferably upwardly, through a superimposed pile or body of the material from which the volatile matters are to be extracted, in order to utilize the initial heat of the gas to extract the volatile matters from the materials treated, so that these volatile matters, together with the gas, are carried away from the vessel .in which the gas is preferably generated and the Volatiles extracted, after which the gas is separated from the volatile matters and conveyed to a suitable tank or boiler for utilization, and the volatile matters conveyed to a suitable depository, and, if desired, refined to any required degree.

In carrying out my improved method, I prefer to employ a retort in which the ma terials to be treated are placed, and in which the heated gas or other suitable agent is generated, and during the extraction of the volatile matters from the materials treated, these materials are preferably moved continuously and progressively through the retort, being fedinto the same at the top and removed at the bottom, as coke or other residue. The temperature of the gas is so maintained within the retort as to extract the desired amount of Volatiles from the materials without producing any chemical change in said materials while the volatiles are being extracted therefrom, and in order to so maintain the temperature the coke or other residue is regularly and uniformly removed at thebottom of the retort causing the ma; terials to pass progressively therethrough in a downward direction. Furthermore, in order to effect a free and uniform expansion Specification of Letters Patent.

- terial and of the required dimensions.

' Patented July 18,1916.

Serial No. 838,173.

of the materials throughout the retort and also in order that the gas may be evenly distributed, I prefer to carry out my improved method under a partial vacuum, for which purpose an exhauster is employed to create this partial vacuum, and also to act as a means for removing or assisting-in removing the. mixed gas and volatile matters from the retort.

My improved method also includes the separation of the gas from the extracted volatiles and the refining of the latter to a required degree, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The apparatus herein shown and described is made the subject matter of a separate application filed on the same date herewith under Serial No. 838,174.

In the drawing, Figure 1 isa diagrammatic sectional-elevation illustrating an apparatus'by which my improved process is carried out, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan of the same.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus which I prefer to employ preferably comprises a retort 10 built upon a suitable base 11, both of which "may be made of any e inner walls 12 of the retort 10 are preferably inolined or tapering from the top, or a point adjacent the top, downwardly, in order to provide not only for the ready distri-' bution of the materials to be treated but also to permit of their proper expansion while under treatment.

In any suitable position in the base 11 of the retort, I provide a fire-place, indicated at 13. This is fitted with suitable grate bars 14, beneath which there is a space, providing an ash pit 15. The fire-place is fitted with a suitable door 16 and the ash pitwith a door 17. The fire-place 13 communicates with a circumferential flue 18, extending any desired distance around, within the base 11, and this flue 18 has branch flues 1'9, making communication between the'same and the interior of the retort at the lower end thereof.) In the mouth of each of the-fines 19, I -prefer to .place a screen 20, and within each fine 19 there is a damper 21.

Within the base at the bottom of the re-j tort, thereis a space in which shafts'22 and 2-3 are suitably mounted. Uponthe shaft 22 there are 'sprocketwheels 24, and I 25. Passing over these sprocket wheels is a moving grate 26, which, as will be understood, is sufficiently wide to extend entirely across the opening at the lower end of the retort.

As will be observed from the drawing, the shaft 23 is appreciably lower than the shaft 24, so that the moving grate is placed at an inclination from= the shaft 22 to the shaft 2,3. The moving grate is preferably thus inclined in order to insure the proper removal of the coke, ash or other residue from the material being treated within the retort, as will be hereinafter more fully 5 explained. At the left-hand end of the grate, as shown in Fig. 1, the same passes immediately over a passage-way 27, at the bottom of which there is a door 28 fitted with an arm 29 and a counter-weight 3O suitably connected thereto in order to normally hold the door in its closed position, as shown in the drawing. At the bottom of the passage-way 27, and beneath the door 28, is a coke or ash pit 31. At the bottom of the ash pit there is a door 32, which is also provided with an arm. 33 and a counterweight 34', in order to normally maintain this door in a closed position, as is also shown in the drawing. The base of the retort preferably rests upon a suitable foundation, and the .walls of the retort proper pass through a floor 35, so that a portion of the apparatus is 'below the floor and a portion thereof above 35 the floor. At its upper end, the retort 10 is provided with a hopper 36, at the top of which there is' a door 37 hinged or otherwise connected thereto, as indicated at 38. This door is normally maintained closed by 40 a bolt 39 provided with a thumb screw. At the bottom of the hopper and at the top of the retort, there is another door, indicated at 40. This door is suitably hinged'to the hopper and is provided with an arm 41 45 and a counter-weight 42, in order to normally maintain it in a closed position, in which position it may be secured by a lock .bolt 43 or otherwise. At a point in the upper end of the retort, adjacent the top thereof, the same is provided with an opening adapted to receive one end of a discharge pipe 44, the opposite end of which is suitably connected to the suction side of an exhauster 45. The discharge side of this exhauster is connected by the pipe 46, preferably extending through the floor 35 and leading to the lower end of a separator 47. This separator also preferably extends through the floor 35 and is supported thereon'by means of brackets 48 or otherwise. For the purpose to be hereinafter explained,

this separator 47 may be provided with a gas burner 49, or other suitable means for heating the contents of the separator. The lower end of the separator 47 is connected to menses an auxiliary retort or still 52, by means of a pipe 50, in which there is a trapor U-bend 51. The auxiliary retort 52 is provided with afire door 53, and interiorly with suitable means for heating the contents of the retort, the door 53 being employed to provide access to the means for heating this member of the apparatus.

v A pipe 54 is suitably secured at one end in the upper portion of the separator 47. This pipe 54c is passed-through a suitable condenser 55, preferably comprising a tank in which water is constantly circulated, and after passing through the condenser is connected to a T 56. The pipe 57 is secured at one end to the T 56 and at the other to an oil or residue tank 58. "The pipe 59 connects the opposite side of the T 56 with an auxiliary separator 60, the upper portion of which is connected to a gas tank 62 by a pipe 61. The auxiliary retort or still 52 is connected to the lower portion of an auxiliary separator 64 by means of a pipe 63, and the pipe 65 extends from the upper end of the auxiliary separator 64: to an auxil Q iary separator 66. The pipe 67 leads from the lower end of the auxiliary separator 64: through the condenser 55, and terminates in an oil tank 68, and similarly a pipe 69 extends from the lower end ofthe auxiliary 5 separator 66 through the condenser 55 and terminates in an oil tank 70. The upper end of the auxiliary separator 66 may be connected to a tank or other receptacle 7 5, and this series of auxiliary separators and tanks continued indefinitely, depending upon the degree to which it is desired to refine the product. The lower end of the auxiliary separator 60 is connected by a pipe 72 with .a tank 73.

In the use of the hereinbefore described apparatus, the bituminous coals, shales, lignites or other similar materials having hydro-carbonaceous ingredients, and from which it is desired to extract the volatile matters, are placed in the retort 10, completely filling the chamber therein, after pro- VlSlOIl has been made for suitably heating the same.

In the use of bituminous coal, the fires may be started immediately upon the mov- 1ng grate 26, access being had thereto for this purpose through a suitable fire door 7i, the bituminous material being suflieiently combustible to provide the necessary gas at the required temperature for extracting the I volatile matters from the material in the upper portion ofthe retort, as it passes through the same. It will be understood that the material may be placed within and the residue removed from the retort without opening the interior thereof to the atmosphere, the material being admitted through the hopper 36 by operating the upper and then the lower door, and the coke, ash or ther understood that the movement of the grate is such as to so control the fires that the temperature of the resultant gas will not exceed approximately 800 F ahr., which has been determined by experiment asvneoessary in obtaining the best results in the practice of my invention. The traveling grate 26 is placed at an inclination so as to provide adequate space between the same.

and'thelower wall of the retort on the side at which the residue is removed.

In the use ofshales, lignites and other similar materials, which are not sufficiently combustible to produce the necessary gas for extracting the volatile matters from the material under treatment, it is necessary to provide some means for, independently generating the necessary gas to effect the extraction of these volatile matters. It is for this purpose that I provide the base of the retort with the fire-place 13 and the fines l8 and 19, so that in extracting volatile matters from these substances, anthracite coal or other suitable material may be burned in this fire-place and the resultant gas passed through the fiues and into the retort, the dampers 21 or other suitable fire-regulating means being operated to maintain the temperature of the gas at approximately 800 Fahr., as hereinbefore stated.

- In extracting the volatile matters from I bituminous-coal, the coke or other residue is progressively removed at the bottom of the retort and the fire in the material restricted to that portion thereof in the bottom of the retort, so that, the gas generated passes up through the coal above the fire and is uniformly distributed therethrough and is thus employed to extract volatile matters therein. These volatile matters, mixed with the gas, are then withdrawn from the retort by the exhauster 45, passing through the pipes 44 and 46 into the separator 47, where, as will be understood, the gases and perhaps a small percentage of thelighter volatile matters will rise to the top of the separator and pass through the pipe 54 through the condenser 55, during which'passage the lighter volatilematters are condensed and passed to the tank 58 by way of the pipe 57, the gases passing by way of the pipe 59 to the auxiliary separator 60 and thence to the gas tank 62, by way vof the pipe 61. If, for any reason, all of the lighter volatile matters should not be condensed in the pipe 54, as the same passes through the condenser, these uncondensed volatile matters will settle in the bottom of the auxiliary separator 60, and pass by Way of the pipe 72 to the tank 7 3. The heavier volatile matters, as it will be understood, settle in the bottom of the separator 47, and are trapped into the auxiliary retort or still 52 by the pipe 50. The gas burner 49, or

other similar heating apparatus, may be utilized, as it will be understood, if, for any reason, the temperature of the mixture of volatile matters and ofthe producer gas is reduced below a certain point before being admittedto the separator 47.

After the heavier volatile matters have reached the auxiliary retort or still 52, they may be heated therein'by any suitable heating apparatus, so that'the vapors pass from the retort or still through the pipe 63 into the auxiliary separator 64, where the lighter portion of these vapors, as will be understood, passes through the pipe 65 into the auxiliary separator 66. The heavier portions of these vapors fall to the bottom of the auxiliary separator 64 and pass, by way of the pipe 67, through the condenser '55 to the tank 68. Similarly, the lighter vapors,

after the same have reached the auxiliary separator 66, rise to the top thereof and pass by way of the pipe 71, to a suitable receptacle, and the heavier portions of the vapor in the auxiliary separator66 pass by way of the pipe 69 through the condenser 55 and the tank 70, it being understood that while I have shown a series of two auxiliary separators, namely 64 and 66, that any number of the same may be employed or similarly connected in order that the products may be refined to any desired degree. It will be furthermore understood that the process of refining the products is precisely the same in the treatment of shales, lignites and other materials, as that hereinbefore described in connection with the treatment of bituminous coals.

I claim as my invention:

1. The herein described method of extracting volatiles from materials having hydrocarbonaceous ingredients, consisting in progressively feeding a deep bed of mate rial from which the volatiles are to be extracted through a receptacle in a given direction and passing a suitable heat agent around the particles of said material and of material from which the volatiles are to be extracted through a receptacle in a given direction and passing a suitable gas at a temperature of 800 FahrL, approximately,

&

around the particles of said material and through said receptacle in the opposite direction to extract the volatiles from said materials without producing any chemical action in said materials while the volatiles are being extracted therefrom.

3. The herein described method ofextracting volatiles from materials having hydrocarbonaceous ingredients, consisting in progressively feeding a deep bed of mate rial from which the volatiles are to be extracted downwardly through a relatively deep conically shaped retort, and generating and passing upwardly through said retort and around particles of said material in the opposite direction, a heated gas to extract the volatiles from said materials without producing any chemical action in the material while the volatiles are being extracted therefrom.

4. The herein described method of extracting volatiles from materials having hydroearbonaceous ingredients, consisting in progressively feeding a deep bed of material, from which the volatiles are to be extracted, downwardly through a relatively deep conically-shaped retort, generating a gas at the bottom of the retort and evenly I distributing said gas around the particles of material in said retort toextract the volatiles therefrom and passing said gas and volatiles from the retort at the end opposite to that in which the gas is generated in order to extract the volatiles from said materials without producing any chemical action therein while the volatiles are being 7 generated in order to extract the volatiles from said materials without producing any chemical action therein while the volatiles are being extracted therefrom, and finally separating the volatiles from the said gases.

6. The herein described method of extracting volatiles from materials having hydrocarbonaceous ingredients, consisting in maintaining in a retort a relatively deep bed of material sutlicient to substantially fill the same, burning the material at the lower end of the retort to produce a gas which passes upwardly through the retort and around the particles of material therein to extract the volatiles therefrom in those portions of the material above the gas producing zone and regularly withdrawing a portion of the ignited material to maintain a temperature of about 800 Fahr. in the generated gas and to cause the material to gradually descend by gravity through the retort.

7'. The herein described method of extracting volatiles from materials having hydrocarbonaceous ingredients, consisting in shaped retort a bed of material sufficiently deep to substantially fill the retort and from which the volatiles are to be extracted, burning the material in the lower end of the retort to produce a gas which passes upwardly through the retort around the particles of material therein to extract the volatiles therefrom above the gas producing zone, evenly distributing the gas throughout the retort and withdrawing the same and the volatiles from the upper end of the retort, and regularly withdrawing a predetermined portion of the ignited material at the bottom of the retort to maintain a temperatureof about 800 Fahiz, in the gas produced and to cause the material to progressively descend by gravity and pass through the retort.

Signed by me this (3th day of May, 1914.

CHARLES C. BUSSEY.

Vtitnesses:

BERTI-IA M. ALLEN, J. B. LE BLANG. 

